Kimi Antonelli secured a historic home victory for Mercedes at the Italian Grand Prix while McLaren confronted strategic fallout from an unhindered intra-team battle at Monza.
The 2025 world champion, Lando Norris, passed Oscar Piastri for fourth on the final lap. He previously dipped a wheel onto the grass while attempting an overtake. Although Norris initially complained on the team radio, the Briton retracted his heated assessment following the chequered flag.
McLaren Evaluate Racing Philosophy
Team principal Andrea Stella confirmed the pit wall chose not to intervene. The squad allowed both drivers to race on identical strategies. However, the squabble ultimately cost McLaren critical time in their pursuit of third-placed Max Verstappen.
Speaking to Motorsport.com, Stella acknowledged the situation seemed much calmer upon review than it appeared “in the heat of the moment”.
The squad will now evaluate whether an alternative approach could yield better points against rival constructors.
“It wasn’t obvious to us on the pit wall, and we thought that it was more important to let them race according to our philosophy of going racing,” Stella told RacingNews365.
The Woking outfit struggled to match the leading pace without a slipstream. This left their drivers exposed to costly aerodynamic drag penalties throughout the middle phase of the race.
McLaren currently sit third in the constructors’ standings and must optimise their operational efficiency ahead of the next session.
